Okay, so George Bush has shown that his compassionate conservatism is really socialism with conservative lip service. Bush has proven that he is a liberal with a thin veneer of faux conservatism covering the big-government, big-spending core of his true self. So what? As good conservatives we should remain focused and pull that Republican lever in the voting booth no matter what our lying eyes tell us? That is what establishment Republicans want their conservative base to do: Sit down, shut up, and vote as we, the enlightened, anointed insiders tell you to. Mind you, they dont want you, the conservatives, the citizens that have remained true to the American Ideals of the founders, to think about how they are using you and are selling you down the river to special interest groups. The neo-cons that control the Republican Party today are hoping that rank and file conservatives will mindlessly vote for Bush, keeping their heads in the sand, until its too late and theyve developed a new constituency to keep them in power. That new constituency will consist of newly married Log Cabin Republicans (gays), welfare dependents sucking up to the new government tit on the right, and amnestied illegals now eligible to vote (as well as more readily able to take your job because theyll work for less, especially since youre being taxed to pay their government supplementals that maintain their standard of living).

Establishment Republicans are coming out and trying to silence the uproar over Bushs amnesty plan for illegals. The establishment types (neo-cons) are telling conservatives to keep it down and look at the long view, the big picture. What crap! How many times do conservatives have to compromise their values, their beliefs, their standards? Why do we always have to give in but we dont see anyone else giving in?

The latest in the string of keep your mouths shut articles Ive seen was on GOPUSA, by the president and CEO of that organization, Bobby Eberle. The title of his article was Bush-Bashing Conservatives Should Focus on the Big Picture. I wrote Mr. Eberle to inform him that conservatives were keeping the big picture, that it was Bush who wasnt. To me, Eberles article, along with all the other hey conservatives, keep quiet about how Bush isnt conservative articles are proof that conservatives and traditionalists are the embarrassing, if needed, stepchildren of the Republican Party. That in itself tells you the Republican Party is not conservative any more.

Given a laundry list of items, would any principled conservative vote for someone who: Continuously increases government spending, driving us deeper into debt; expands central government power over the states; undermines the Bill of Rights with bills such as the USA Patriot Act; cuts deals with other countries that undermine our economy via so-called free trade deals that only go one way (only out with our jobs and only in with products); wants to give millions of criminals (illegal aliens) a pass, thus not only blurring our boarder, but driving wages down and encouraging even more illegals to flood our markets in hopes of yet another amnesty a few years down the road? This is George Bush. He is no conservative. Why vote for a liberal in Republican clothing?

There was a political shift over the last twenty years in the South, as Southerners woke up to the fact that the Democratic Party had been taken over by socialists and no longer represented their interests, thus causing the huge migration to the Party of Reagan. Southerners, and other conservatives and traditionalists, need to wake up to the fact that the Republican Party is morphing into merely an evil twin of the Democratic Party, and they need to migrate to another political entity. It could even happen this election year. The key is not which party conservatives and traditionalists are with, but that they stand by their ideals, stand on principle. The neo-cons have already shown that conservatives dont have a seat at the table in the Republican Party, so why cast our lot with them?

Heres something else to consider: Even if the House of Representatives kill this amnesty plan of Bushs, and the establishment Republicans wink at conservatives and traditionalists saying, Hey, we knew it wouldnt pass, we just wanted to influence Hispanic votes by acting like we care, dont buy it. If the plan goes down to defeat this summer, once Bush gets re-elected in November you can bet it will be back with a vengeance, and the House and Senate will pass the amnesty plan. Nothing in the past 10 years, since the Republican Revolution, shows me that the Republicans are conservative or mean anything they say concerning supporting conservative positions. No, there wont be a socialist getting my vote this year, be he Democrat or be he Republican. As for me, Ill be voting conservative, which means most likely the Constitution Party. Im not throwing my vote away; Bush threw it away with everything he and the neo-cons have done for the last four years.

I do not think that a traditional or Roth IRA will be able to live up to its promise, for those of us under 30. I think that by the time I retire, the government will have decided that it needs to tax my IRA, when I withdraw the money from it, even if I only contributed after-tax income to it. And, I think that I will pay back taxes on my IRA contributions, if I opted to contribute pre-tax income to it. That's why I don't have an IRA.

I think that the IRS will one day be its own department, rather than an agency within a department.

I think that the Democrat Party Platform of today will be indistinguishable from the Republican Party Platform in 12 years.

I think that there will be a Marxist-style backlash against free trade, fueled by the hate-speech of the isolationists and the nanny-state mentality of the unions.

-----

I enjoy the limited economic freedom of the US, because there is no place in the world that one has a better shot at obtaining sufficient wealth to retire comfortably. But, that is really the only reason that I stay here. As soon as I am able to retire, I plan on moving to some developing or recently-developed country. I left my native state of Maine, because it was so ridiculous. I now sit back, from afar, and watch as they destroy themselves. I will probably be doing the same with America, in 30 years. I have served my country and been a good citizen. But, just as I would not remain business partners with a thief, or stay with a woman who cheats on me, or drive a car with no brakes, I will not remain in the US, if the majority of its citizens remain non-thinking sheep, enamored of pop-culture, seeking handouts, wanting to spend my money, and allowing themselves to be duped by every smooth-talking politician who seeks power. Withdrawing all of my money from the bank, putting it in a suitcase and moving to the Dalmatia coast of Croatia is looking better everyday.

103
posted on 02/02/2004 8:15:36 AM PST
by Voice in your head
("The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage." - Thucydides)

If and when Bush and the RNC see that they lost the election due to conservatives abandoning RINOs for candidates that truly represent their politics, they will recognize that the Republican party needs a serious shift to the right, and that candidates must govern with the same principles with which they ran for office. I am willing to throw Bush out and tolerate another 4 years of Democrat presidency to teach them this lesson, as long as the numbers bear out this truth for the RNC to see.

If a line is never drawn then Republicans will continue to drift to the left as they inevitably have. In spite of the few bones he has tossed conservatives, he has shown himself to be an unabashed liberal in the most important areas of fiscal responsibility, state power, and respect for the Constitution. Bush must be punished. We made it through 8 years of a Democrat-controlled white house and we'll make it through another 4.

If and when Bush and the RNC see that they lost the election due to conservatives abandoning RINOs for candidates that truly represent their politics, they will recognize that the Republican party needs a serious shift to the right, and that candidates must govern with the same principles with which they ran for office. I am willing to throw Bush out and tolerate another 4 years of Democrat presidency to teach them this lesson, as long as the numbers bear out this truth for the RNC to see.

So why do you think this will work now when it didn't work in 1992 when voters taught them a lesson with Perot?

The lesson ended up being 8 years of Bill Clinton. Do you want 8 years of Hillary now?

Yet, if we are going to really affect this nation's politics... it has to begin there.

If we take the attitude that it's too hard...or it's just simpler to vote third party and pat ourselves on our back for our stand...then we have resigned this nation to its demise.

There is a big difference between George W. Bush and John Kerry. There is a big difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Big enough to affect any "conservatives" vote come this November.

Where they are equal is where the electorate demands them to be equal... on entitlements and spending. That isn't going to change until we reeducate the electorate to the harm they are doing to themselves and this nation.

112
posted on 02/02/2004 8:23:42 AM PST
by carton253
(I have no genius at seeming.)

The neo-cons that control the Republican Party today are hoping that rank and file conservatives will mindlessly vote for Bush, keeping their heads in the sand, until its too late and theyve developed a new constituency to keep them in power. That new constituency will consist of newly married Log Cabin Republicans (gays), welfare dependents sucking up to the new government tit on the right, and amnestied illegals now eligible to vote (as well as more readily able to take your job because theyll work for less, especially since youre being taxed to pay their government supplementals that maintain their standard of living).

Where they are equal is where the electorate demands them to be equal... on entitlements and spending. That isn't going to change until we reeducate the electorate to the harm they are doing to themselves and this nation.

You are exactly right. The people to blame for what the government does is the people who do nothing but sit around and complain.

Until enough people wake up and realize that it takes involvement instead of complaining nothing is going to change.

its say basically the country is much more liberal today than in 1984. Only MN has become more Republican. the reasons are this:

The DEM part is perceived as moving right on economics

Single people are growing as a % of the population while married people are falling.

Growing immigrant population

It seems like the demographics of the country are rapidly moving against the GOP and especially conservatives.

Jeb Babbin today has a good atricle in American Spectator about why conservative should support Bush, due mostly to foreign policy.

I have warned people here before. Dont think if Kerry is elected in 2004, that he will lose in 2008. There have not been in over 100 years two failed back to back one term Presidents. If Kerry wins in 2004, we'll likely win in 2008.

That would mean at least 3 Supreme Court Appointments.

I do hope that when and if Kerry does win, those who stayed home on election day will refrain from complaining about whatever liberal activism comes from the White House

Bush and his advisors toss the conservative base an occasional bone when they hear the grumblings of unrest.

For example, Pickering's appointment after the illegal immigration bedacle and his "budget reduction" makeover after additional funding to the NEA.

He got a free ride from mounted criticism about CFR and his Education Bill because of 9/11.

Now watch what happens in the next few weeks when he extends unemployment benefits...we can expect another bone to be tossed our way. Those who do the greatest harm to the conservative cause are those who accept pandering and mediocrity. And it will continue as long as these people forgive and forget, and say "see, he's a conservative".

It has to get worse before it gets any better. Bush has divided his party, and the only way to unite is for Bush to move right, or the party lose the White House. And to move Bush right, the ENTIRE party must hold him accountable and demand he govern, in all aspects, with the conservative leanings we expected when he was elected.

Then I suggest you watch the news and read the newspapers... that will catch you up to speed. Get back with me in a week... then we can talk politics... because your lack of understanding is only going to get in the way.

134
posted on 02/02/2004 8:48:54 AM PST
by carton253
(I have no genius at seeming.)

When hundreds of thousands of illegals per year can cross our borders with impunity, our sovereignty is at risk.

You're preachin' to the choir, friend. I live in Hereford Arizona and you can't get much closer to the "front lines" than that. Just last night someone was trying to come in through our back door. We've found camp sites on our land and caught Mexicans trying to get into our shed.

I'm not happy with everything GW's done, but it could've been a LOT worse had Algore won the election.

137
posted on 02/02/2004 8:51:59 AM PST
by Marie
(My coffee cup is waaaaay too small to deal with this day.)

"I'm not happy with everything GW's done, but it could've been a LOT worse had Algore won the election."

Good point, Marie.

But unfortunately, it is going to take much worse to make things get better. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When things get unbearable, we, the people, all of us, will take the action necessary to correct, be it hold our elected officials responsible or take matters into our own hands.

This is a discussion board... you are correct. But I have learned over the course of time, to discern between those who are truly seeking information and those who are not. In my humble opinion, you are in the not category and to continue any debate with you would be an exercise in futility.

Now, if I have insulted your sincerity... you have my apologies ahead of time...

146
posted on 02/02/2004 9:00:56 AM PST
by carton253
(I have no genius at seeming.)

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